Arjun Erigaisi will be the top seed at Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024
Arjun Erigaisi will make his debut at Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024 in Jermuk, Armenia. He will be the top seed in this Category 17 tournament. Arjun will be seen in action with the defending champion - Samuel Sevian (USA), M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI), Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU), Haik M Martirosyan (ARM), Matthias Bluebaum (GER), Shant Sargsyan (ARM), Volodar Murzin, Manuel Petrosyan (ARM) and Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM). The tournament will take place at Jermuk Ashkarh Health Center in Vayots Dzor, Armenia from 9th to 18th June 2024. The total prize fund of the tournament is 7450000 AMD (≈ US$ 18400). The top three prizes are 3100000 AMD (≈ US$ 7976), 1 850 000 AMD (≈ US$ 4760) and 1500000 (≈ US$ 3859). Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia
A strong Category 17 tournament
Three out of the ten participants are the winners of the previous four editions. Samuel Sevian (USA) won the fourth edition in 2023, M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI) was the winner of the third edition in 2022, Manuel Petrosyan clinched the inaugural and second event in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Players
World no.8 - Arjun Erigaisi, Iran no.2 and World no.31 - M Amin Tabatabaei, defending champion, USA no.6 and World no.38 - Samuel Sevian, Romania no.2 and World no.43 - Bogdan-Daniel Deac, Armenia no.1 and World no.55 - Haik M Martirosyan, Germany no.3 and World no.93 - Matthias Bluebaum, Armenia no.5 - Shant Sargsyan, Volodar Murzin, Armenia no.8 - Manuel Petrosyan and Armenia no.9 - Robert Hovhannisyan.
Time Control
90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game (with 30 seconds increment starting from move one).
Prizes
The total prize fund is 7450000 AMD (≈ US$ 18400). The top three prizes are 3100000 AMD (≈ US$ 7976), 1 850 000 AMD (≈ US$ 4760) and 1500000 (≈ US$ 3859). There are also Chessify prizes for all ten participants. The top three Chessify prizes are - bundles worth $350, $300 and $250 each.
Schedule
| Sunday | 9 June at 19:00 | Opening Ceremony |
| Monday | 10 June at 15:00 | Round 1 |
| Tuesday | 11 June at 15:00 | Round 2 |
| Wednesday | 12 June at 15:00 | Round 3 |
| Thursday | 13 June at 15:00 | Round 4 |
| Friday | 14 June at 15:00 | Round 5 |
| Saturday | 15 June at 15:00 | Round 6 |
| Sunday | 16 June at 15:00 | Round 7 |
| Monday | 17 June at 15:00 | Round 8 |
| Tuesday | 18 June at 11:00 | Round 9 |
| Tuesday | 18 June at 17:00 | Closing Ceremony |
